Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in South Orange County

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in South Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

South of Nick's - Laguna Beach

4.8

4.8 (2028)

$30 and under

Mexican

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

An essential stop in Orange County for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Top review

KarleeVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Delicious margaritas and food. Great view. Would happily return.

South of Nick's - San Clemente

4.8

4.8 (2066)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Clemente

About the restaurant

An essential stop in Orange County for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Top review

KristinVIP

Dined 5 days ago

We had a great dinner with another couple and were able to catch up and enjoy the evening. We loved the chicken flautas and the grillet caesar with filet was excellent. I highly recommend the cucumber margarita!

Discover more

4.6

4.6 (291)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Silverado

About the restaurant

Xacalli is a Chef Driven Modern Mexican Restaurant that highlights regional Mexican cuisine. Located in historical mining town of Silverado Canyon, in eastern Orange County next to the cities of Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Lake Forest. Beautiful drive from Orange, Irvine and Tustin.

The community of Silverado with her majestic mountains, state designated scenic highway is a hidden gem located at the boundaries of Cleveland National Forest.

Xacalli's aim is to bring people and food together with authentic dishes that are modern and visually beautiful as well as entice your taste buds. We serve plates with the intention of sharing family style. Whether at the bar or in our dining room, we aim to showcase our passion for service excellence. Executive Chef Vincent Espinoza sources quality ingredients to create a seasonal menu alongside a craft bar. We are thrilled to welcome you to Xacalli for dinner + craft cocktails in our rustic and friendly restaurant.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Jun 8, 2025

Worth the trip. Food and service were great. We will definitely be back

Discover more

Experience

Handcrafted Tacos now serving Tuesday

Todos Santos - Newport Beach

4.9

4.9 (112)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Todos Santos Balboa is an expansion of the Todos Santos Mexican Kitchen concept established in 2019 in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. TSB inherits the authentic recipes of coastal Baja, while providing a modern presentation and flavor profile in our cuisine.

Our program includes specialty coffee service provided by Succulent Coffee Roasters, a full bar with scratch made margaritas, and an elevated wine list to enhance guest experience. Our home on Balboa Island exhibits the contemporary beauty of Southern California and welcomes you with patio dining just a few feet from the Island Ferry. We look forward to your visit!

Top review

Jane

Dined on May 29, 2025

Loved the chips and salsa, taquitos were delicious, clean and friendly environment. I will come back.

Discover more

Popular dish

Halibut Tacos

Javier's Irvine Spectrum

4.7

4.7 (249)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Javier's Irvine Spectrum serves original Mexican cuisine. Opened in 2004 and located close to the 405 and 5 freeways, the restaurant offers numerous entrees and combo meals. Javier's Irvine Spectrum selects and serves only the freshest ingredients, including sustainable and in-season seafood, natural chicken and center-cut #1 prime Angus beef. Every dish is prepared fresh to order, and guests may sit in the spacious main dining room, on the intimate patio, at the bar or in a private dining area.The dining room is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 11:00 p.m. Javier's Irvine Spectrum's full bar is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Reservations are accepted.

Top review

Renald

Dined 5 days ago

Good food, busy due to Father’s Day, excellent service..

El Adobe de Capistrano

4.7

4.7 (1131)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Juan Capistrano

About the restaurant

Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in a historic setting at El Adobe de Capistrano. This landmark features a wedding chapel, stained-glass windows and additional beautiful architectural details. Its kitchen has a mesquite-burning grill where chefs prepare deliciously flavored seafood and steak dishes. Soups, salads and appetizers are also on the menu, including tasty desserts.Owners Tony Moiso and Gilbert Aguirre have kept the atmosphere and traditions of the El Adobe de Capistrano going. This establishment still prepares the dishes that President Nixon and his wife enjoyed while visiting during his administration. It has a full bar that serves various drinks, a lounge area for socializing and a patio in the front. El Adobe de Capistrano offers private rooms for banquets and other events. The Palenque features a retracting roof, making it ideal for hosting an event under the night sky. It offers brunch and has a Happy Hour.

Top review

Todd

Dined 2 days ago

We love El Adobe and take friends and family when they are in town. Usually everything is perfect. My Pepita salad had some lettuce that was not fresh. We will go back. This is very unusual.

Javier's Crystal Cove

4.6

4.6 (659)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Artistically designed with unique sculptures, Javier's Crystal Cove provides guests with ocean views in a cozy, contemporary atmosphere to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine. It opened its doors in 2008 on Newport Beach and is conveniently close to the Crystal Cove Shopping Center. This restaurant offers guests an upscale dining experience with such entrees as the Maine lobster enchilada topped with Monterey jack cheese and grilled chicken breasts braised in chipotle sauce. Javier's Crystal Cove serves a variety of fresh seafood dishes, appetizers and delicious desserts. It has a full bar that features numerous tequilas, cocktails, beers and wine. Javier's Crystal Cove also offers outdoor dining. It accepts reservations over the phone and online.

Top review

Kevin

Dined 3 days ago

Food was average, service was great and atmosphere.

Puesto Los Olivos

4.5

4.5 (1840)

$30 and under

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Mexico City born. California raised. Puesto brings the vibrant soul of CDMX through a Southern California lens-bold, modern Mexican with an edge. Seasonal menus, creative takes, and the best ingredients in the hands of better chefs. Every tortilla starts with organic blue corn, made in-house like it's been since 1200 BC. Puesto is family-founded by the Adler and Lombrozo brothers, first-gen Mexican Americans raised on tamales and tradition. It's a love letter to the flavors they grew up with, reimagined with Mexico City energy and SoCal spirit. Made by food people. For food people.

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Great food at a good price on Taco Tuesday. Very good shrimp and filet tacos

Discover more

Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen - Irvine

4.7

4.7 (1202)

$30 and under

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen is an award-winning Latin restaurant offering contemporary dishes including seafood; braised meats; and grinding corn in-house to create tortillas and various masa dishes. Cha Cha’s has become known for fresh Latin cuisine made-from-scratch with quality, seasonal ingredients; sustainably-caught seafood; wood-fired meats; local organic produce; as well as signature margaritas and an innovative cocktail menu.

PLEASE NOTE: Cha Cha's automatically adds a 20% gratuity fee for parties of 6 and over.

Top review

Ernesto

Dined 5 days ago

Kim is such an amazing server, we come here specifically for her. Kim and the management crew always treat us well whenever we go and accommodate us the best that they can. I will always come here and recommend it to anyone that wants good food, good ambiance, and good service!

Todos Santos

4.4

4.4 (146)

$30 and under

Mexican

Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita

About the restaurant

Located in El Paseo Plaza, Todos Santos is a newly renovated restaurant specializing in modern authentic Mexican cuisine.

With an extensive tequila & mezcal selection, heated outdoor dining, a brand new bar patio and a culinary team with decades of experience in Mexican cuisine, Todos Santos promises to deliver an amazing experience no matter the occasion.

Top review

Gaelle

Dined on May 24, 2025

Loved the DJ and music……………………………………………………………………….

Discover more

Experience

Weekend Brunch-Kids Eat Free 🍳

Experience

Tacos + Tequila at Todos 🌮🍹

Explore Diners' Choice best of South Orange County